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Parents can now officially recognise the lives of babies lost early in pregnancy

Parents who experience the loss of a baby in the early stages of pregnancy will now have the opportunity to have their child’s life officially recognised, regardless of when the loss occurred. The Government has announced an extension to the baby loss certificate scheme, initially launched in February 2024, which allows parents to apply for recognition for losses dating back to September 2018.

According to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), over 50,000 baby loss certificates have been issued since the scheme’s inception. In a significant development, there will now be no time limit on applications; certificates will be available for any parent who has experienced a loss before 24 weeks of gestation, or 28 weeks if the loss occurred before October 1992.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting commented, “Losing a pregnancy can be deeply distressing; there is so much love and so many dreams for the future wrapped up in a tiny life. That’s why it is important for bereaved parents to have the option to officially recognise the existence of their babies and how much they matter. I’m pleased we can now ensure all parents are able to apply for these certificates, no matter how long ago they lost their pregnancies.”

Streeting emphasised the Government’s commitment to listening to women and families as it works to overhaul the health system to provide compassionate, safe, and personalised care.

Vicki Robinson, chief executive of the charity Miscarriage Association, expressed her support for the extended scheme, stating, “We’ve been extremely keen to see the scheme extended to include losses before 2018, so today marks a significant milestone for those who have waited for this recognition. For many, even the earliest of losses can be deeply distressing, both emotionally and physically, but having a formal acknowledgement as a marker of their loss can be a meaningful part of the grieving process.”

Robinson noted the positive impact the certification scheme has had, saying, “We know from the people that we support how much the certification scheme has helped those who have experienced pregnancy loss, so this is great news that people whose losses were previously not acknowledged now can be.”

The baby loss certificate scheme was established following the recommendations of the independent Pregnancy Loss Review, published in 2023. Samantha Collinge, bereavement lead midwife at George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust and co-chair of the Pregnancy Loss Review, hailed the extension as a “huge milestone moment.”

Collinge added, “Since I was appointed as a bereavement midwife in 1998, I have campaigned for a standardised care pathway that ensures that every parent experiencing baby loss, regardless of the gestation or type of loss, receives the physical and emotional care and support they deserve. Removing the restrictions around the application process will give all bereaved parents of pre-24 week baby loss the official recognition that their babies did exist and that their babies’ lives, however brief, really do matter.”

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